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Xbox 360 Update Shuts Out Hackers, Fixes Issues
Gamasutra reports on the update to the Xbox 360's Live element, which fixes a number of bugs and smooths out certain elements of the system. It, allegedly, is also intended to shut out folks trying to hack Microsoft's new console by making the demo disc unusable on retail machines. From the article: "The demo disc in question was produced for Xbox 360 retail demo kiosks, and was found not to contain any copy-protection when hackers obtained their own unauthorized copy of the software in mid-December ... meaning it was possible to run demo versions of the Xbox 360 software on the disc on burned media. Several commenters on website Xbox-Scene seem to confirm that the disc is no longer functional."
Despite MS's efforts, I feel safe saying it's still only a matter of time before a modded 360 becomes a reality.
If forums teach us anything, it is that logic and critical thinking should be required courses in the public schools.
I can understand why Microsoft is so protective of their XBox system, but for the sake of covering their own behinds, they have ignored an entire niche market (xbox hackers). I am curious to find out what percentage of original xbox's have mods made to them. There are dozens of different mods out there that enhance what Microsoft has put together.
Instead of shunning these people, embrace them. Give them opportunities to mod the Xbox. Lend them code or reference design information. Do it with the idea that if you do, Microsoft will not honor parts or all of their warranty.
Really, why would Microsoft really care about this? All it is is more Xbox units being sold and more money in their pocket. I see it as a win-win situation.
/me whips out ethereal to get to work.
Oh wait, I didn't buy an XBox360
doh!
Intentions allege results.
Just becuase Microsoft may want to make something hack proof, doesn't mean they did.
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
What's the surprise? It's not marketed as a "hack this for fun" box. It's a box marketed to play games licensed for the XBox 360. There's no deception, and spending your money on something designed to foil you is silly indeed.
The problem, as I see it, is that big industries are beginning to just assume that people have to buy their stuff. They seem to feel that it's their system still. Like Blizzard and the Warden, like all this DRM nonsense, like all the crap the music and film industries are throwing out there. Big Companies can't accept the idea that their industry as a whole can shrink. They assume that there is no way their industry could shrink, and no one else is allowed to enter their market. Both of which assumptions are completely anti-capitalist.
How exactly is the "LUNIX!!! WE WILL LOAD EMULATORZ ON UR CONSOLE! W00T X-CREW F0REVER! GREETZ NA BZ LKS I-0-I" crowd "Microsoft's biggest fans?"
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Actually, it doesn't. The article does not quote Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson), it quotes a person who posted a comment to Larry's blog. This hack blocking code has not been officially announced, though it's pretty clear this was a reason for this quick fix. They did include some legitimate and necessary improvements, too, but probably rushed this out faster to block the demo disc.
-=Gamewatcher at BusyGamerNews.com
Nintendo has always sold it consoles for a profit perhaps only losing slight amounts of money right around when it cut prices on the GameCube to $99. Selling at a loss is a recent thing, done by companies that can survive off of other products until revenue from game licenses kicks up. Nintendo, as a company that lives and dies by video games and consoles alone, has always had to sell the system itself at a small profit to stay in business.
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
For me, this is a FEATURE. A gaming console is a gaming console. I think Microsoft's behavior is despicable when it comes to DRM and PC Operating Systems... but when I play a video game, I want to pop in and play, and I don't want to worry about security (some sort of console virus, or just players cheating or being annoying online). I don't need to write a web server for my console, because I can use my PC to do that.
A game console is a toy. A PC is a multipurpose tool. I judge them by a different set of criteria.
Uhh, actually that's not true, from the article:
"mentioned by a pseudonymous commenter on the weblog of Xbox Live director of programming Larry 'Major Nelson' Hryb"
It was mentioned in one of the comments on Major Nelson's blog...... and not by Major Nelson himself.
Found this on xbox-scene.com
changelog:
This free update, is now available over Xbox Live. There are no new features in this release, but rather a series of fixes and enhancements. Some of the items the update addresses are:
* Improved logic around deciding if saved games should be deleted and offer the option to only delete the profile and to leave all save data.
* Users reporting blank Friends List on the Xbox 360 dash after muting a friend while playing a game in Backwards Compatibility mode.
* Improved synching of games played to Web and in console.
* Network settings: keyboard does now allow entry of - (dash) character in the keyboard.
* Improvements to the Xbox Guide.
* Increased accuracy of "last time played."
* Network configuration improvements for Xbox Live members in the Netherlands.
* More detailed messaging for unreadable disk or region errors.
FUNK!
Because the demo disk contained unsigned, unencrypted code, which means that arbitrary code could potentially be run. Locking out the demo disk means that crackers can't find out how to run unsigned code on the machine, preventing softmodding
That's not true. Windows XP SP2 introduced a ton of new features including a firewall and the security center along with other security enhancements and a pop-up blocker in IE.
The demo disc was meant to run in retail kiosks - not as a general demo for advertising.
Because the demo disk contained unsigned, unencrypted code, which means that arbitrary code could potentially be run. Locking out the demo disk means that crackers can't find out how to run unsigned code on the machine, preventing softmodding
All code on the demo disc is signed/encrypted - but some of the data files used by the code are not signed (raising the possibility of a buffer overflow exploit).
Most Xbox code requires that the application/files be on a Microsoft-"pressed" DVD. The Retail kiosk disc code didn't have that extra check - so it was possible to burn your own copy (and replace datafiles looking for an exploit).
- Paulb
"So every unit sold for homebrew modding for Linux, or modding for running pirated titles, is a financial loss, since it won't have any game sales to offset the loss and turn a profit."
You know what's an even bigger loss, both financially and in a PR sense? An unsold unit. I can't believe the doublethink some people go through to justify buying an MS product.
Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling
Been meaning to ask this since the original "woohoo, 'hackers' released an ISO of an unprotected XBox 360 demo disk" article: how's this hacking anyway? What's the coding or even cracking challenge in making an ISO of a DVD? How's it "news for nerds, stuff that matters"?
It's just piracy, and of the kind that doesn't need any skills. Any kid with a DVD drive and Nero or any other DVD burning program can make an ISO.
Now I can see how, say, finding an exploit to boot Linux on the original XBox was "hacking" (in either meaning of the word you swear by). Or how those people who made the PSP load *ahem* "homebrewn games" (strange how those are only waved around as an excuse to load _pirated_ commercial games) were "hackers".
But pirating an unprotected DVD? Gimme a break.
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.